Tatlow & Deep Cove Neighbourhood Traffic Calming

About the Project:

The District of North Saanich is undertaking a project to improve community safety and comfort along Tatlow, Birch, Wain and Downey Roads along with key intersections at these roadways within Deep Cove, through the introduction of traffic calming and gateway treatments. These improvements to the roadway will have the effect of reducing traffic speeds, and encouraging increased attention and care when travelling, thereby making the community safer for all users, whether walking, cycling, on horseback or driving.

The Active Transportation Plan adopted by the District in 2021 recommended traffic calming treatments for the Deep Cove neighbourhood and Tatlow Road. WATT Consulting Group was retained by the District in 2024 to propose solutions based on resident feedback and traffic safety best practices. An initial online survey gathered resident concerns for the area. An Open House and online survey followed to allow residents a chance to comment on the proposed options.

UPDATE April 24, 2025

The final Traffic Safety Improvement Reports are now available along with specific roadway recommendations for Tatlow, Birch, Wain and Downey Roads.

These reports consider resident feedback, effectiveness of proposed options in improving safety, and feasibility and cost of installing the options. WATT presented a toolbox of safety measures that received general support through public engagement. The treatments aim to address the specific concerns raised by residents and meet the recommended design standards to ensure they are appropriate for the area.

Updates to Deep Cove area:

Neighbourhood Gateway treatments were recommended for the main roads into Deep Cove – Birch Road, Wain Road and Downey Road. The intention is that through signage and minor traffic calming improvements, it will raise driver awareness that they have left the main arterial roads and are in an area shared with pedestrians, equestrians and cyclists. Improvements to pedestrian space through widened shoulders or offroad paths will be included where feasible around ditches and other infrastructure.

Features to be implemented across Deep Cove roads include a selection of the following:

• Gateway signage indicating drivers are entering a traffic-calmed neighbourhood.
• Digital speed reader boards to show driver speeds and flash warnings if speed is excessive. These boards also continuously record vehicle speeds and volumes to help us monitor traffic conditions.
• Raised crosswalk with pedestrian-activated flashers at main pedestrian and trail crossings.
• Widened gravel shoulder (1.0m minimum, 1.5m desirable width) to provide more pedestrian space and an all-weather surface for walking.
• Extension of off-road trail on Birch Road where right of way width, vegetation and infrastructure permit.
• Narrowed driving lanes – white edge lines will be added 3.0m from centreline to visually narrow the driving lanes on Wain Road. The perception of lanes narrower than typical can help reduce speeds.
• Speed limit reduction 50km/h to 40 km/h for many roads in Deep Cove

Updates to Tatlow Road area:

Traffic calming on Tatlow Road was recommended in the Active Transportation Plan to improve safety due to the narrow road width while maintaining the rural character of the road.

The following features will be implemented on Tatlow Road with the goal of providing safer pedestrian space and reducing vehicle speeds and volumes:

• Gateway signage indicating drivers are entering a traffic-calmed neighbourhood.
• Digital speed reader boards to show driver speeds and flash warnings if speed is excessive. These boards also continuously record vehicle speeds and volumes to help us monitor traffic conditions.
• Raised crosswalk with pedestrian-activated flashers near Heather Road and at trail crossings.
• Widened gravel shoulder (1.0m minimum, 1.5m desirable width) to provide more pedestrian space and an all-weather surface for walking in areas that allow
• Provision of an off-road trail within the boulevard in areas that allow and limit impact to vegetation and infrastructure.
• Speed limit reduction 50km/h to 40 km/h.

These recommendations are now available for the community to provide feedback and comment. Staff will receive and consider all feedback and look to present final recommendations to Council along with details on implementation.

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Figure 1 Deep Cove Recommendation Sketch

Figure 2 Tatlow Recommendation Sketch

UPDATE November 15, 2024

What We Heard Report added to Documents. This report summarizes findings from both rounds of community engagement. The key takeaways from this summary will guide the recommended improvements in the final report.

Project Timeline:

• Community Engagement - April/May 2024
• Draft Recommendations - Summer 2024
• Public Open House - September 18, 2024 - Wain Rd Fire Hall, 6-8pm
• Final Recommendations presented to Council - Q4 2024 / Q1 2025

Community Engagement:

District staff are keen to hear from community members about traffic and safety issues within and nearby the project areas, as well as what specific types of improvements are desired. Community members will have the following opportunities to provide feedback to District staff:

• A survey and online mapping tool opened April 3 - April 21, 2024. The online mapping tool can be used to indicate precise locations within the community where the respondent wishes to provide feedback. Individual feedback will also be received via the project site.
• A public open house will be held September 18, where preliminary recommendations and treatment options will be presented. Community members will be able to provide comment on recommendations, vote for their preferred treatment options, and suggest additional tweaks.
  
  

UPDATE Sept 13, 2024

The Draft Deep Cove Neighborhood Gateway Plan and the Draft Tatlow Traffic Calming Plan are now available for review (on the right, under Documents).

UPDATE - Community Engagement #1 - Survey

Survey Responses Report PDF (summary and verbatim responses) added to Documents

What We Heard Summary from Survey #1:

A collection of comments received from survey participants is shown below. These comments help form the preliminary recommendations and options.

Tatlow:

• Extend curb protected asphalt sidewalk on east side of West Saanich Road past Tatlow intersection, and add traffic calming to this area
• Zebra crosswalk at Tatlow / Clayton Trail
• Traffic calming may encourage more traffic through West Saanich school zone
• Road surface needs repair – hazard for cyclists
• Slow down traffic – speed reader board
• Mixed opinions on speed humps
• Sidewalks/bike lanes
• Equestrian path
• No trucks except local traffic
• Crosswalk with lights at Clayton Trail
• Crosswalk at Horth Hill trail
• Removal of centreline (2 say it encourages speeding)
• Bike pullouts (1 says it saves trees over a bike lane)
• Parking at the commercial stand is an issue (no/limited off-street parking)
• Crosswalk between 2 segments of Laurel/Heather – a route to school
• Stop signs
• Preserve trees in Right of Way
• (Some say no changes needed)

Deep Cove:

• Birch Road:
  • East of Meldran curve – blind driveway with possible vegetation/hydro pole obstruction
  • Crosswalk at Wain Park – visibility should be improved
  • Speeding not as bad as Tatlow
  • Poor visibility/sightlines at west end of road
  • Extend existing trail
  • Speed bumps, especially near park (mixed opinions on this)
  • Bikes should slow down
• Wain Road:
  • Not enough walking space
  • Speeding concerns
  • Traffic calming, especially Derrick to West Saanich
  • Mixed opinions on speed bumps (1 says will cause added acceleration noise after bump)
  • 4-way stop at Wain / West Saanich
  • Roundabout at Wain / West Saanich
  • Multi-use path (MUP)
  • Stop sign at Derrick
  • Walking trail connection at crest of hill – traffic calming needed
• Downey Road:
  • Equestrian signage
  • Traffic calming from Derrick to West Saanich (1 says also to the hill west of Derrick)
  • Stop sign at Derrick
  • Sidewalks
  • Hedge trimming at West Saanich, Derrick, Deep Cove Rd
  • Equestrian safety concerns (speeding, etc.)
    
    

Project Area & Definitions:

The project area is defined in the map below. Traffic calming is proposed for Tatlow Road between Wain Road and West Saanich Road, while gateway treatments are proposed for the intersections of Birch, Wain and Downey Roads with West Saanich Road. The west portion of Tatlow Road (between West Saanich Road and Chalet Road) is outside of the study area, however recommended treatments will be considered for this portion of the roadway.

Traffic Calming refers to physical changes to the roadway that are intended to reduce traffic speeds, and can include speed humps, chicanes, curb extensions, pedestrian refuge islands and others. Traffic calming can also incorporate a variety of visual changes which are designed to increase driver attentiveness.

Gateway Treatment refers to physical changes and augmentations to the roadway that signify a transition between an area where higher vehicle speeds are permissible, and a local neighbourhood area where people walking, cycling, horseriding, rolling or otherwise travelling by active means are the priority. Treatments could include many aspects of traffic calming used in conjunction with signage, pavement markings, landscaping, and others.

Background:

The District of North Saanich Active Transportation Plan (adopted May 2021) first identified the need for neighbourhood gateways at Birch Road, Wain Road and Downey Road, as well as traffic calming along Tatlow Road. Specifically, roads identified for neighbourhood gateway treatments "provide an opportunity to influence driver behaviours as they leave the major road network and enter local neighbourhood streets where they should drive more slowly and with greater care as the likelihood of encountering pedestrians and cyclists is greater, and more residential dwellings face the roadway".

Additionally, Tatlow Road was identified as a candidate for traffic calming as it provides access to Horth Hill Regional Park, but often finds itself carrying short-cutting traffic from West Saanich Road to Wain Road that could otherwise stay on both of those roads. The implementation of traffic calming on Tatlow Road was identified as a method to create a corridor that meets the general goals of the Active Transportation Plan, including the need to improve safety and make it more comfortable to walk, cycle, and horseback ride.